Machine for breaking blocks of sugar into pieces and placing them in boxes



Sept. 22, 1925.

A. LETORT ET AL MACHINE FOR BREAKING BLOCKS 0F SUGAR INTO PIECE-S AND PLACING THEM IN BOXES v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13. 1921 111/1175;- 4. l d [If 7747115071 Mar 21 a;

. A. LETORT ET AL MACHINE FOR BREAKING BLOCKS 0F SUGAR v INTO PIECES AND PLACING THEM IN BOXES v Filed Sept; 13, 1921 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1925.

A. LETORT ET AL MACHINE FOR BREAKING BLOCKS 0F SUGAR INTO PIECES AND PLACING THEM IN BOXES 5 sheets sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13, 11921 [71/371 far-J:

)4-1 8, for? ce L.8fi07 %l71 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 22, 1925.

I A. LETORT ET AL MACHINE FOR BREAKING BLOCKS OF SUGAR INTO PIECES AND PLACING THEM IN BOXES Filed Sept. 13. 1921 Sept. 22, 1925.

' A. LETORT ET AL MACHINE FOR BREAKING BLOCKS OF SUGAR INTO PIECES AND PLACING THEM IN BOXES Filed Sept. 15, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm H. .|..l I|Hi||H HJIH UH H LWFIIIM I| "JUN H I fi rill II I HI. I. Tl II M.

l l I l I 1 1 1 1 I I l l I [11 min far! l4-Z9f0i'f A 1.6190717Z71777 2 4 MW m rearward movement of the conveyor 1, the table 6 receives a rising movement which is communicated to it by a rod 6 receiving its vertical movement from a cam 6 through the intermediary of a lever 6 (Fig; 8)'and which is adapted, as stated'above, totransfer the blocks to the conveyor 7. This vertical moVement of the elevator plate takes place- 10 which form an endless chain, and which pass oVer the drums 11 and 12 which transut an intermittent advancing movement to the conveyor, in the direction of the arrow 6, this -movement being produced by the slotted wheel 13 co-operating with the rollers I I or pins 14, 15, 16. The driving bars 8 are provided withspring pushers that permit the blocks of sugar to spread after they have been subjectedto a breaking operation.

The fact that the two conveyors 1 and 7, and the elevator 6, are all controlled by the sameshaft and by means of a Maltese cross, assures a sufficient precision in the different operations, so that the lumps, raised by elevator 6, are insertedv between the bars 8, of conveyor 7'. V

The breaking of the blocks is effected by passing the blocks between two cylinders 17, 18, the peripheries of which are provided with teeth or blades 17 18 (Figs. 1 and 3) the projection, and number of their teeth are definitely settled so as to constitute shears, which break the blocks into pieces the dimensions of which dependon the number of pieces desired. The pieces are not separated one from another or disarranged by the breaking. v The crushing mechanism is also operated by an intermittent movement taken from the main control shaft 34 (Fig. 6) by means of wheels 35, v36, the Maltese cross 13, the fingers 14, 15, and 16, and wheels 37 and 38. ince movement of the conveyor is controlled by this same Maltese cross 13, and wheels 37 and 39, the synchronism of the movements of these two devices, is perfect.

The blocks thus broken arrive above a funnel-like frame 19 into which they are pushed by the action of plate 20 operated by a, plunger or pushing device 21 which receives a quick descending movement controlled by the double cam 21".which carries three notches 40, 41. and 42, of varying depths corresponding reach to one of the three sizes of sugar particles to be boxed. A lever with rollers 21" coacts with cam 21, and communicates its movement to the pusher 21, bymeans'of arm 21. (Jam 21" being mounted on the same shaft as the plate carrying the fingers 14, 15, and 16, assuring movement of the cross 13, it follows that this device operates in perfect synchronism, with the conveyor.

Prior to this, the machine has formed around the funnel 19 the paper box or carrench 1 held by fingers 22, has advanced for a'de- I sired distance alongto the supporting table 22 ,under the action'of the feed or supply collars 22".

Immediately after the cutting, the fingers 22 are raised slightly, by means of a-suitable cont-rolling mechanism, in a manner to produce the initial folding of thesidesv c, c of the box against the walls of the funnel 19. The folding is completed by means of the folders 23, 24, which are 23, 24 against the side walls of the fun nel 19. I

The blade folders 25, 26 in' continuing their travel bend the pasted parts 1), 12 At this moment the movable bottom 27 is raised; the spring blades 28, 29, with which the bottom is provided fold the sides 0 0 of the box against the, faces of the funnel 19 while the blade folders 25, 26, are withdrawn so that they do not contact with the others.

Towards the end of this movement, the plate 20 acts on a second row of blocks, then a third, after each successive advance-0f the blocks towards the upper opening of the funnel 19.

In each case, at the moment of placing the last block of sugar. in the box, the plate 20 is given a descending movement greater than the preceding descending movement so as to discharge at one and the same time the finished box and the sugar which it encloses, the blocks being broken into pieces.

The finished and loaded box is then, by means of a lateral pusher 30 operated by a suitable transmission mechanism 30, '30", 30, brought on to a conveyor consisting of an endless belt 31 which passes over drums or pulleys 31, 31" operated in a manner to have a continuous movement which translates the filled and finished boxes toithe outside. of the machines. The central vertical plane E, F, (F ig. 7 of the conveyor is arranged to be perpendicular tothe plane of pressed by springs of lever 44.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means we know of carrying the same into practical effect, we claim 1. A machine for breaking lump sugar, and for placing it in successive layers, in boxes, comprising, in combination, a conveyor having endless bands, crushing rolls, and pusher mechanism for placing the sugar into boxes, and actuating mechanism for simultaneously operating the three said de- 1 vices with an intermittent movement, the actuating mechanism including a Maltese cross and coacting fingers.

2. A machine for breaking lump sugar, and for placing it in successive layers, in boxes, comprising, a conveyor having an operating drum and mounted on a shaft, crushing rolls, and mechanism for intermittently operating the conveyor and rolls, said mechanism including a second shaft, a Maltese cross mounted on the second shaft, a Wheel having fingers which coact with the Maltese cross, a toothed wheel mounted on the second shaft, a roll wheel fixed to one of the rolls, and a wheel mounted on the drum shaft, the toothed wheel engaging directly with the roll wheel and the wheel on the drum shaft. V

3. A machine for breaking lump sugar, and for placing it in successive layers, in boxes, comprising, in combination, a conveyor, a crusher, and mechanism, including a Maltese cross on a shaft and co-acting fingers rotatable about a second shaft, for actuating the conveyor and the crusher with an intermittent movement, a pusher for placing the sugar into boxes, and a cam having a plurality of unequal bosses and mounted on the second shaft, the cam actuating the pusher with an intermittent movement.

4. A machine for breaking lump sugar, and for placing it in successive layers, in

boxes, comprising, in combination, a conveyor, a crusher, .and apusher, and actuating mechanism for simultaneously operating the three said devices with an intermittent movement, comprising, a first shaft,

a drum and a wheel thereon, the conveyor.

being carried by the drum, a second shaft, a finger wheel thereon, fingers on the finger wheel, a third shaft, a Maltese cross and a drive wheel thereon, the fingers, on rotation of the finger wheel imparting an intermittent movement to the Maltese cross and the drive wheel, the drive wheel directly actuating both the wheel on the first shaft and the crusher, a cam wheel on the second shaft,

and a cam arm, connected to the pusher, and bearing against the cam wheel.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

ALFRED LETORT, LOUIS GHAMBON. 

